Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy T.D., has announced a further budget increase of almost €1.2 million for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. The additional funds bring the Office’s total budget to over €4.7 million. This is up from its €1.89 million budget allocation in 2014.

Minister Murphy said: “Under Budget 2016, increased resources are being made available to the independent Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, headed up by Helen Dixon, to ensure that Ireland continues to have an excellent regulatory and enforcement regime for data protection, and that we are fully equipped to adapt to the ever-increasing pace of change in the digital economy.”
“Funding has already facilitated the recruitment of additional staff by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the establishment of a new Dublin office in addition to the existing office situated in Portarlington, Co Laois.”

“The Government has set out a clear road map for the future of data protection in Ireland, that will both protect the rights of our citizens and enhance the opportunities for secure, quality employment in the ever-widening range of digital industries.”